Carefree, Ariz.

Dropped into a netherworld of huge granite boulders extruded from the earth 12 million years ago, The Boulders, a 36-hole retreat located 20 miles north of Phoenix, sets the pace for sumptuous golf in the Sonoran Desert. The South Course, its Gold and Red tees both rated for women, is the more visually arresting of the two layouts, its holes threaded through a stunning rock-strewn landscape punctuated by cactus.To ease the intimidation newcomers often feel on the golf course, The Boulders has since the mid-1990’s offered female-friendly instructional programs. The Golden Door Spa features Native American-inspired treatments, the movement studio schedules yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi classes, and the resort’s Southwestern-inspired cuisine, notably in Palo Verde, is exceptional.